Official Press Release

Post date: Jan 28, 2014 5:41:37 PM

27 January 2014 – Courtesy of the Budweiser Club Futures programme, non-league Handsworth Junior Sporting Club is set to go head-to-head with seven other clubs for a chance of securing £100,000 worth of funding in a fans’ vote.

The fortunes of the Hallamshire County League side have already changed significantly, following the announcement last month that the club had successfully secured £50,000 to carry out a full refurbishment of its main facilities and replace the old grandstand.

A further £100,000 would allow the club to continue its ambition to create quality facilities in order to develop young footballers from the area. The club will also explore further community uses for the facilities, including disability participation.

The award of the £100,000 Super Grant will mean that Budweiser has injected £1million directly into non-league football in the UK through the Club Futures programme over two seasons, as part of its FA Cup sponsorship.

Football fans can now decide which club they want to see receive the £100,000 Super Grant. From 27January until 28February, fans can view short videos from each club online at www.facebook.com/budweiseruk and cast their vote to choose the winner.

The ambition of Budweiser Club Futures has been to help clubs to help themselves, with the grant recipients using the funding to improve their facilities and make their club more financially sustainable. These funds help the clubs secure their place at the heart of communities, in turn helping to ensure the future of the beautiful game at the grassroots level across the UK.

Budweiser Club Futures is also supported by the Football Foundation, who help choose the grant recipients each season, and The FA Facilities and Investment team, who provide advice and guidance to the non-league clubs applying.

Bob Hill, Club President and founder of Handsworth Junior Sporting Club, said: "The £50,000 grant will help us create our vision of providing the best possible football experience for our own players and families and also our opposition. The plans we have in place for the grandstand are now very much a reality thanks to the Budweiser funding and I know the community will reap the benefits once it’s complete. We can’t even begin to imagine what £100,000 would help us do for the community.”

Local MP Clive Betts added: “I am very pleased that Handsworth Junior Sporting Club have been given the £50,000 grant. It will help continue their excellent work in the community and I wish them every success in their bid for the additional £100,000 funding.”

Budweiser Club Futures ambassador, Alan Pardew, said: “Eight clubs have already received a significant amount of money at the £50,000 stage, but the £100,000 Super Grant injection will be like a huge lottery win for one club. I’d encourage all football fans to cast their vote for the Super Grant winner to help change the future of clubs like Handsworth.

“Being involved with this programme for the last two seasons has evoked some great memories. Having started my career at non-league, I’ve said all along I appreciate just how hard it is to sustain a local club, which is why the Budweiser Club Futures programme is so important. It’s been fantastic to see the difference the funding has made to all the recipients.”

Budweiser Senior Brand Manager Christian Flouch, said: “Non-league clubs are really important to the future of the beautiful game and to local communities. We’ve started seeing some great results following improvements made by the clubs from season one, so look forward to similar results this season and wish all clubs luck in the Facebook vote.”

All clubs across Steps 5-7 have received ‘Running a Sustainable Club’, a guidance booklet to help them become more sustainable. Clubs wishing to receive a free copy can email FacilitiesInfo@thefa.com.